Taking Off The Mask
216 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago -Taking Off The Mask is an experience of getting real. Providing young men and men a space to have real conversations about life, challenges, joys, heartbreak, dreams, failures, and whatever is ready to be revealed. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support
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Episodes
E59. “Fixing” vs. “Feeling” - with Tim Mousseau, Speaker & Researcher
October 19, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 138 MB“We have to get over the idea that every problem can be fixed… ‘If there’s no logical solution, then is it worth thinking about?’ The answer is yeah, absolutely. There are so many problems in life that we’re never going to solve, but we should still think about them and talk about them.” - Tim Mousseau Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Tim Mousseau. As a survivor of sexual violence, Tim refused to let the incident control him. As someone who now controls his own story, speak...
E58. Go Farther Together - with George Hofstetter, Founder and CEO of GHTech Inc.
October 13, 2021 03:23 - 48 minutes - 111 MB“We’re just trying to be able to support and cultivate the strongest community that we can, especially of our loved ones - All that conditioning, where it’s like, we got to do it by ourselves? Nah. ‘You want to go farther, go together. If you want to go fast, go alone.’ But fast is never the right decision. I don’t think it’s ever the right decision.” - George Hofstetter Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by George Hofstetter. For many, the first things that come to mind with Geor...
E57. “Eat Bitter” - with Joshua Gao, High School Student, Co-Founder & CEO at SAFE
October 05, 2021 23:00 - 55 minutes - 128 MB“I used to approach life with this mindset, this mentality, that I’m trying to get to this one end goal. I’m trying to get to this final destination - of where I want to be able to make a change in this world and do all these things... I’m willing to take on some pain right now so I can see fruits in the future - which is true, but the danger of that mindset is you don’t live in the moment and you don’t enjoy even the mundane things.” - Joshua Gao Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joine...
E56. Greetings from Perú! - with Gustavo Heredia, Founder of Edulimitless, and Graduate of the Latin American Leadership Academy
September 28, 2021 23:00 - 51 minutes - 117 MB“This is about willingness. If you’re willing to share what’s happening in your life, everything is going to be fine. But if I have to remember [for] myself, a couple years ago, I wouldn’t do that. Because I didn’t feel prepared at the time.” - Gustavo Heredia Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Gustavo Heredia, whose full name is Luis Gustavo Heredia Vasquez. As a gap year student, Gustavo is dedicated to volunteering for NGOs and developing the social project, Edulimitless, wh...
E55. Getting off the “Hedonic Treadmill” - with Chip Conley, Hospitality Entrepreneur & New York Times Bestselling Author
September 21, 2021 23:00 - 49 minutes - 113 MB“For me, being more vulnerable made me more of a visionary. I really do believe that. It allowed me to move beyond the past and to see the future.” - Chip Conley Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Chip Conley. Chip is a man that has disrupted the hospitality industry twice in his lifetime - once as the founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, and again as a key strategic advisor during Airbnb’s rise. What does it take to build two industry-transforming businesses, all while being ...
E54. What parts of yourself does your heart long to reunite with? - with Didier Sylvain, Life and Leadership Coach
September 14, 2021 23:00 - 57 minutes - 132 MB“I come from a worldview, a belief, an assumption that all people are inherently whole and resourced to give all their gifts and greatest contributions to the world. So for some of us, our fires might be dormant for a variety of reasons, but it’s not that there’s no fire. Everyone has fire.” Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Didier Sylvain. As a life and leadership coach, Didier coaches individuals and groups, helping them become fuller versions of themselves. Both Didier and ...
E53. Justin Baldoni - on Human Beings and “Human Doings”
September 07, 2021 23:00 - 44 minutes - 101 MB"People are like, "You are a machine." And I’m like "yeah I am." And there’s a part of me that’s like, "oh yeah, I’m a machine. I’m a machine." And it’s so backwards how as men we can have our egos inflated when we’re compared to non-human things. Why do I want to be a machine? I don’t want to be a machine. Machines don’t have empathy or compassion or sensitivity. Machines can’t enjoy sex. Machines don’t laugh. Why does that inflate my ego and make me puff out my chest? What am I comparing ...
E52. Same Things, Different Masks - with Will Tidwell, Founder of Speak Up Zee
August 31, 2021 23:00 - 44 minutes - 101 MB“The reason I speak with such passion and love when I’m creating is because I’m the one dealing with a lot of those the things that I’m telling you about... Somebody is going through the exact same thing, it just has a different face on it. It has a different mask on it.” - Will Tidwell Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Will Tidwell of Speak Up Zee. Often referred to as the “Neighborhood Hero”, Will is a multi-talented poet, writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and organizer of com...
E51. Bicycles and "Harm Reduction" - with Antonio Chavez, Courier & Founder of Lost Soul Courier Collective
August 24, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 142 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Antonio Chavez. Recently, Antonio was harassed by a man in Pacific Heights. He recorded a video of the situation, and it went viral. More important than the incident itself, Antonio considers what it means with respect to fatherhood, education, trust, masculinity, and his community. As the founder of Lost Soul Courier Collective, Antonio delivers Narcan, a medicine essential in fighting the opioid epidemic and saving lives. He also organizes co...
E50. The One Year Anniversary Episode - with Ryan Louie, Filmmaker and Producer of Taking Off The Mask
August 10, 2021 23:13 - 1 hour - 189 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Ryan Louie. Ryan is the producer behind this very podcast, so it felt very fitting to have him as the guest in this one-year anniversary episode. Ashanti and Ryan follow the same format that makes this podcast what it is; they share the front and back of their respective masks and let the conversation go where it needs to be. Along the way they discuss legacy, setting boundaries, standing up for something, and what a year’s worth of podcasting ...
E49. TOTM Face to Face #5: Wisdom Beyond Their Years - with Angel R. & Wenceslao S.S.
August 03, 2021 23:00 - 41 minutes - 96 MBThis TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Angel and Wenceslao (Wen), two interns at the Ever Forward Club’s Social Emotional Leadership Academy. Through the mask-making process and the card game "Ever Forward Club: The Adventure", Angel and Wen discover they have more in common than what they initially believed. At age 14 and 13, respectively, Angel and Wen are also the youngest individuals to ever host the Taking Off The Mask podcast; they demonstrate how a teenager can even be more br...
E48. TOTM Face to Face #4: Finding Purpose - with Sam R. & Ben R.
July 27, 2021 23:00 - 49 minutes - 112 MBThis TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Sam and Ben, two interns at the Ever Forward Club’s Social-Emotional Leadership Academy. Through the mask-making process and the card game "Ever Forward Club: The Adventure", Sam and Ben explore what it is like to not know what to do with the rest of their lives with “adulthood” being right around the corner. They both find comfort in knowing that they are not alone in this sentiment. Ashanti Branch and Justin Martinez make guest appearances, ho...
E48. TOTM Face to Face #4: Finding Purpose - with Sam R. & Ben W.-R.
July 27, 2021 23:00 - 49 minutes - 112 MBThis TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Sam and Ben, two interns at the Ever Forward Club’s Social-Emotional Leadership Academy. Through the mask-making process and the card game "Ever Forward Club: The Adventure", Sam and Ben explore what it is like to not know what to do with the rest of their lives with “adulthood” being right around the corner. They both find comfort in knowing that they are not alone in this sentiment. Ashanti Branch and Justin Martinez make guest appearances, ho...
E47. Normalcy Comes from Transparency - with José Quintero, Radio Host
July 20, 2021 23:51 - 55 minutes - 128 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by José Quintero. José is a Mexican American man, working as a radio host for CALI 93.9, a Spanish reggaeton station in Los Ángeles. Ashanti and José share their excitement over the changing landscape in men’s vulnerability, the many ways to define success, and the similar ground they walk as survivors. Enjoy the episode! (1:55) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:55) José introduces himself and how he found his passion - hosting a podcast and hosting Sp...
E46. Windows into our Personalities - with Spencer Atkinson, Career Coach and Experiential Educator
July 13, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 173 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Spencer Atkinson. Spencer is a Career Coach and Experiential Educator, helping students at UC Davis navigate university life and find fulfilling careers. In this conversation, Ashanti and Spencer find a connection looking back on their careers as veteran educators. They even overlapped as collaborators at Stanford University. We hope you enjoy hearing Spencer’s dedication to the well-being of our youth come through your speakers. (1:30) Ashant...
E45. The Future of Masculinity - with Christian Lopez, Vulnerable Man
July 06, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 146 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Christian Lopez. As a former pro athlete, Christian has done the difficult work of rediscovering himself in order to understand what he can offer the world without the label of “pro athlete” hanging over him. When asked what he would like to be listed as his title or job title when we promote the podcast, he simply responded, “Vulnerable Man.” We hope you enjoy listening to this conversation with Christian, and learn what it takes to rediscover...
E44. The Opposite of Addiction is Community - with Samir Zakir, Entrepreneur & Activist
June 29, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 151 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Samir Zakir. As an entrepreneur and activist, he has founded companies like Illuminate Entertainment Group and MediaBuzz Global. He and Ashanti both share a desire to have a positive impact on culture and mental health. They share their masks and discuss how their understanding of mental health and wellness has improved over the years. (1:30) Ashanti's introduction. (4:30) Samir introduces himself and his work as an activist and media entrepr...
E43. Moving at the Speed of Trust - with Malcolm Dydo, Director & Co-Founder, Freedom Within Project
June 22, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 145 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Malcolm Dydo, the Director and Co-Founder of Freedom Within Project. In this conversation, Ashanti’s passion for working with youth is equaled by Malcolm’s drive to create environments that allow the incarcerated population to heal. Recorded on the eve of Father’s Day weekend, Malcolm holds space for Ashanti as he shares his perspective on the holiday. (1:55) Ashanti's introduction. (6:42) Malcolm introduces himself, his work supporting the i...
E42. TOTM Face to Face #3: A Long Overdue Conversation - with Kevin Romero and Chioke Allen-Alvarez
June 16, 2021 00:10 - 1 hour - 157 MBThis TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Kevin and Chioke, two friends who have known each other for 4 years since high school. Through the mask-making process and the card game "Ever Forward Club: The Adventure", Kevin and Chioke go somewhere they have never gone as friends, establishing a deeper connection that felt long overdue. TOTM Face to Face was created during the launch of this podcast, where two or more young men participate in the process of making and sharing masks. Each p...
E41. Free Our Own Minds - with Donté Clark, Poet
June 08, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 147 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Donté Clark. After watching and being moved by Donté’s poetry, Ashanti invited him on the podcast. What follows is a conversation about compassion, emancipation, and overcoming the “400-year head start” that the Black community has been up against for generations. (1:30) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:30) Donté introduces himself, his work, his interest, and his attitude as a lifelong learner. (7:20) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny,...
E40. Planting the Seeds of Success - with Victor Manuel de la Mora Patiño, Architect Designer and Construction Coordinator
June 02, 2021 00:00 - 57 minutes - 132 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Victor Manuel de la Mora Patiño. Victor is an alumni of the Ever Forward Club, and, in addition to sharing their masks and reflecting on old times, Victor fills Ashanti with immense pride as he tells Ashanti how he is applying the mentoring principles he has learned from the Ever Forward Club. As the CEO of his own architecture firm, Victor uses his experience with the Ever Forward Club to mentor the next generation of young people in Mexico. ...
E39. Try Everything and Pray for the Best - with Leo L., High School Student & Gaming Enthusiast
May 25, 2021 23:00 - 55 minutes - 126 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Leo L., a high school sophomore living in San Francisco, CA. In his first podcast appearance, Leo shares what it is like being an introvert - specifically an introvert that has adopted a "no regrets" philosophy. Ultimately, Leo's courage, to have such a public and vulnerable discussion with Ashanti, leads to a heartwarming discussion about self-discovery. (1:02) Ashanti’s introduction (4:20) Leo introduces himself, his origins, his interests,...
E38. The Next Generation of Activism - with Denel McMahan, Dublin High School BSU President
May 18, 2021 23:00 - 59 minutes - 137 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Denel McMahan. Denel is a high school senior - on the brink of graduation! Though he has yet to receive his diploma (something that will happen in mere days), Denel has already co-founded an alumni association, begun interning for Congressman Eric Swalwell, protested for Black Lives Matter, and coordinated with the local city council to put on social justice-oriented events in the Tri-Valley area. Ashanti and Denel discuss the front and back of...
E37. The Little Characters Inside Our Heads - with Niroj Bhandari, Health Researcher, Entrepreneur, Doctor
May 11, 2021 23:10 - 1 hour - 140 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Niroj Bhandari. Niroj is based in Nepal, and his non-profit work focuses on strengthening access to health for low and middle income countries. Ashanti and Niroj discuss “gloominess”, providing structures to express and discuss negative emotions healthily, and how accurate the movie Inside Out really is. (00:57) Ashanti's introduction. (5:40) Niroj introduces himself and how he and Ashanti know each other, and Ashanti congratulates Niroj for ...
E36. Joe Hawley - on Fear, Leadership, and Life after the NFL
May 04, 2021 23:00 - 48 minutes - 110 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Joe Hawley. Joe is determined to help professional athletes find their purpose after leaving the game that they love. After 8 seasons in the NFL, Joe retired in 2017, donated his belongings, bought a van, and traveled the US for nearly two years. Ashanti and Joe discuss what’s on the back of Joe’s mask; what Joe learned on the road; the importance of trust, courage and boundaries; and why fear is a guiding post to freedom. (1:44) Ashanti’s int...
E35. How can we shoulder trauma and emotional burdens as a community? - with Kevin Romero, Scholar & College Student
April 27, 2021 23:03 - 1 hour - 168 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Kevin Romero. Kevin is a young college student with an emotional wisdom that goes beyond his years. After sharing their masks, Ashanti and Kevin engage in a deep, philosophical discussion on emotional burdens - how much should the individual be responsible for handling their own emotions, and what is the role of the individual’s peers, significant other, family, and friends in this emotional burden? (3:55) After finishing setting a brand new p...
E34. Turtles Live Longer than Rabbits - with Earl Crawford Jr., Educational Leader
April 20, 2021 23:00 - 40 minutes - 93.5 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Earl Crawford Jr. Earl is a director and principal of multiple programs that serve at-risk youth. He views himself as a “servant leader”, but prefers to leave out the word “leader.” Ashanti and Earl work in the same field. But beyond discussing the world of education, they take off their masks and explore their fears, their family relationships, and how life can be summed up with a tortoise and a hare. (1:29) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:30) Ea...
E33. Speaking Up for Yourself - with Luis Canseco, Domestic Violence Prevention Educator
April 13, 2021 23:00 - 51 minutes - 118 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Luis Canseco. Luis speaks with both youth and adults about domestic violence prevention, and he believes that early prevention and vulnerability are the keys to reducing violence and building a better world. Ashanti and Luis connect over their love of Oaxaca, and discuss how experiences being bullied as children shaped them and their future work advocating for social justice. (1:48) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:27) Luis introduces himself, his ...
E32. Updates and Good News - with Ashanti Branch and Sam R.
April 07, 2021 01:07 - 26 minutes - 61.7 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch gives some updates and news around the EFC. He then shares the story of an Ever Forward Club member and student leader, Sam R. Here are some updates: (1:47) An Ever Forward Club student and Ashanti are appearing on the Kelly Clarkson Show, on April 7, 2021, at 3 pm PST. Learn how you can watch the program on NBC or online. (3:46) Alameda High School submitted 1,850 new masks, during a school wide Taking Off The Mask workshop, led by student leadership. A...
E31. Removing the Stigma of Loneliness - with Adam Smiley Poswolsky, Keynote Speaker & Author: Friendship in the Age of Loneliness
March 30, 2021 23:00 - 46 minutes - 107 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Adam Smiley Poswolsky. Adam is a person full of empathy, and his desire to build understanding for the common good comes across in this conversation. As a millennial workplace expert, his goal is to foster a sense of belonging in the digital age. Currently he is de-stigmatizing loneliness in his newest book, “Friendship in the Age of Loneliness.” (1:45) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:30) Smiley introduces himself and his work as an author and mil...
E30. Adam Roa - on Faith, Doubt, and the Magic of Life
March 23, 2021 23:00 - 54 minutes - 125 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Adam Roa. Adam is a renowned artist, poet, and coach. Beyond his millions of YouTube views, Adam is known for being radically vulnerable and open with his emotions. In this conversation, Adam and Ashanti discuss fulfillment, discovering the "magic" of life, and how a giving people the right emotional tools can change perspectives and lead to healthier, happier lifestyles. (1:42) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:55) Adam introduces himself and his p...
E29. When a Wound Becomes a Scar - with Keita Demming, Director of Innovation and Development, The Covenant Group
March 16, 2021 23:00 - 36 minutes - 82.8 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Keita Demming. In addition to his work with The Covenant Group, Keita is interested in how our society can have better conversations. Keita's grandmother passed away recently before the recording of this podcast, and Ashanti lost his grandmother a year ago, so the men bond and reflect on where their emotions have taken them during the grieving process. (1:36) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:05) Keita introduces himself, his work, and why he believ...
E28. Special Episode: A Panel Discussion of "Beyond Men and Masculinity"
March 10, 2021 00:00 - 49 minutes - 113 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch hosts filmmaker Alex Gabbay, and author and lecturer Dr. Judy Chu, as the three panelists answer audience questions and discuss Alex’s new film "Beyond Men and Masculinity". In addition to discussing the effects of culture and hierarchy on child development, the panelists are joined by nine-year-old Lucian, the youngest member of Ever Forward Club’s newest boys’ circle, and high school senior Justin Odom, who has contributed significantly to the launch of t...
E27. Something Worth Fighting For - with Thomas Sage Pedersen, CEO, Mentor, and Podcast Host
March 03, 2021 00:00 - 55 minutes - 128 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Thomas Sage Pedersen. Thomas hosts the podcast Speak For Change, works as CEO of the award winning music school Everyone's Music School, serves on the Steering Committee for Santa Cruz County’s Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity, and is a Certified Kingian Nonviolence Trainer. Thomas and Ashanti share their masks, and their conversation centers mostly around Parker Palmer’s idea of a “Critical Gap” that exists between one’s own world...
E26. On the Business of Creativity - with Adam Rosendahl, Founder and Chief Experience Officer of Late Nite Art
February 24, 2021 00:00 - 56 minutes - 129 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Adam Rosendahl. As a creative entrepreneur and the Chief Experience Officer of Late Nite Art, Adam sees art as a means to humanize individuals and build connections. The two men discuss what it takes to maintain creativity while leading their respective organizations. (1:33) Ashanti’s introduction. (3:28) Adam introduces himself and his work, and then he and Ashanti share their friendship and its origins. (9:22) Both men share the front of t...
E25. Exploring New Spaces and Places - with Jason Gant, Athletic Mental Skills Coach
February 17, 2021 00:00 - 35 minutes - 81.3 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jason Gant. Jason is a San Francisco native who brings an international perspective to his work in mental health and athletics. He has collaborated with and supported the youth of Ever Forward Social-Emotional Leadership Academy. Ashanti discusses Jason's curios, adventurous nature, and what he has learned while abroad. (1:24) Ashanti’s introduction. (3:55) Jason introduces himself. In addition to his experiences with mental health, we learn ...
E24. Overcoming food addiction and setting high standards - with Chuck Herñañdez, Founder, Aqua Duck Enterprises
February 10, 2021 00:00 - 58 minutes - 133 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Charles Luis Herñañdez, or “Chuck”. Among many things, Chuck is “a man on a mission to lose 300 lbs”. In this conversation, Ashanti and Chuck discuss how each man has gained purpose and inspiration from their friendship. (1:20) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:05) Chuck introduces himself, the origins of his nickname, his family, his work in education, as well as his passion for projects in music and video. They reflect on how a chance meeting with...
E23. Hold Your Head Up High - with Aaron Jackson, Student and Public Figure
February 03, 2021 00:00 - 30 minutes - 70.8 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Aaron Jackson. Aaron is a student at the University of San Francisco. Based in Oakland, CA, he was recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle’s coverage of the Bay Area’s 2020 graduating high school senior class. Ashanti and Aaron make masks together, and share their similar experiences with the passing of family members. (1:12) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:13) Aaron shares what his southern background means to him, and why he enjoys livi...
E22. The Cultivation of Relaxation - with Dan Doty, Men’s Coach
January 27, 2021 00:00 - 36 minutes - 84.1 MBEverforward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Dan Doty. Dan has done it all, from writing, to meditation teaching, to men's coaching, to wilderness exploring, to podcasting, to filmmaking... Ashanti's relationship with Dan includes an appearance on Dan's podcast, as well as a retreat into Joshua Tree with Evryman. In this conversation, Dan and Ashanti explore the fronts and backs of their masks, and they reflect on what it means to break the "rules" of masculinity, and whether there are any...
E21. Still Swimmin’ - with Big Bruh, host of the podcast "Live with Big Bruh"
January 20, 2021 00:38 - 48 minutes - 110 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Big Bruh. Big Bruh is a family man, and the host of the podcast Live with Big Bruh. Ashanti and Big Bruh find common ground over hard work, experiences with grief and loss, and conquering the urge to numb pain with distraction instead of confronting pain with honesty and vulnerability. (1:02) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:07) Big Bruh introduces himself. He talks about his family and what it’s like to record and host a podcast in a car, with his...
E20. Leveraging Self-Awareness - with Jordon Hodges, EFC Alumnus and HR Coordinator
January 13, 2021 00:35 - 47 minutes - 109 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jordon Hodges. Jordon is an alumnus of the Ever Forward Club, a former student of Ashanti at San Lorenzo High School, and a UC Irvine graduate, who now works and lives in Orange County, California. The two men discuss how one's expression of anger can change over the course of one's life, and they look back on their experiences at San Lorenzo High School from the perspectives of identity and emotional intelligence. (1:15) Ashanti’s introductio...
E19. TOTM Face to Face #2: Breathe a Sigh of Relief - with Darnell Waters and Marcel Vasquez
January 06, 2021 00:00 - 15 minutes - 36.4 MBTOTM Face to Face is a series of podcasts where two or more young men undergo the process of making masks, a workshop activity created by Ashanti Branch. This conversation between Darnell and Marcel is the first time that the two men have ever spoken. (1:05) Ashanti’s introduction. (3:31) Darnell and Marcel “check in”, rating how they are feeling from a scale from 1 to 10 at this moment. (4:23) The men create their masks, explain what the front of the mask means, and share what they curre...
E18. Kindred Spirits (re-release): A Conversation with Shawn Dove, CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement
December 30, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 160 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Shawn Dove, CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA). An accomplished leader, community-builder, and advocate for children and families, Shawn has held a prominent position as mentor in Ashanti's life. The two share a spiritual connection, an intangible brotherhood, and the fronts and backs of their masks flow and roll open without ever specifically naming the activity, happening through free-flowing conversation, story, and reflec...
E17. A Moment of Transparency - with Mike Veny, Keynote Speaker and Author
December 23, 2020 16:54 - 48 minutes - 111 MBThis week Ashanti Branch is joined by Mike Veny. Mike is a keynote speaker, who usually speaks on mental health topics, and is an author of multiple books, including Transforming Stigma: How to Become a Mental Wellness Superhero. (1:37) Ashanti’s introduction. (3:33) Mike shares his background with Ashanti, including his speaking experience, his own struggles with mental health, and the mission of his company. Ashanti then relates to Mike’s story with his experiences as a Vice Principal an...
E16. Special Episode: An Appearance on CNN Takes on a Whole New Meaning
December 16, 2020 00:07 - 36 minutes - 83.3 MBOn November 29th, 2020, Ashanti appeared on “Lost Boys,” an episode of Lisa Ling’s nationally televised CNN Program, This Is Life. The episode took on a whole new meaning when things were revealed that he was not yet ready to share with his mother, who was watching the program as it aired live. (0:10) In Ashanti’s introduction he gives context for the special episode, leading up to a story he is going to tell about when he was 8 years old. (3:50) Ashanti begins his story, about a tragic ev...
E15. The Best Risk You Can Take: Looking Inwards - with Justin Odom, High School Senior and Filmmaker
December 09, 2020 00:00 - 59 minutes - 136 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Justin Odom. Justin is a talented filmmaker and senior at Encinal High School. (1:25) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:00) We learn about how Justin and Ashanti met, and about Justin’s background, his work as a filmmaker, and how he is bringing the Million Mask Movement to his high school. (5:45) Justin talks about the first time he made a mask during his freshman year. Ashanti celebrates how, three years later, Justin is now entering a leadership...
E14. A New Work of Art - with Nana Oduro Frimpong, Artist, Photographer, 2020 Adobe Rising Star
December 02, 2020 01:20 - 40 minutes - 93.8 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Nana Oduro Frimpong, a renowned artist, and photographer based in Ghana. Frimpong was recently named a 2020 Adobe Rising Star of photography. (1:37) Ashanti’s introduction. (3:55) Frimpong introduces himself and the journey that led him to art. (5:20) Ashanti and Frimpong go back to the moment when Frimpong fell in love with photography and how it started while sitting under a tree, taking photos, at a time when he was deferring his colle...
E13. The Conqueror Narrative - with Chris Ategeka, Entrepreneur, Engineer, and Founder of UCOT
November 25, 2020 00:00 - 53 minutes - 122 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Chris Ategeka, an entrepreneur, engineer, curator of TEDx Oakland, and the Founder/CEO of UCOT (Unintended Consequences of Technology). (1:25) Ashanti’s Introduction. (4:07) Chris introduces himself - an entrepreneur, engineer, father, and Ugandan. Chris and Ashanti share how they met and have gotten to know each other. (6:00) Chris and Ashanti make their masks together, and share thoughts throughout the process. (11:55) Chris shares the fr...
E12. The Beauty of Anger - with Mike Sagun, Certified Professional Men's Coach & EVRYMAN Facilitator
November 18, 2020 00:05 - 56 minutes - 130 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Mike Sagun, a former Oaklander, a Certified Professional Men’s Coach, and an EVRYMAN Facilitator. (1:20) Ashanti’s introduction (3:50) Mike shares his background, as a business owner, men’s coach, and Bay Area native. (6:00) After an early break in the production, Ashanti and Mike ruminate on the responsibilities of a leader. (10:53) Mike and Ashanti discuss how they met in Oakland and Joshua Tree, and open up a general discussion on how ma...
E11. Awakening Your Higher Self - with Khiari Allen-Infante, Ever Forward Club Member
November 10, 2020 23:43 - 1 hour - 138 MBEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Khiari Allen-Infante, a high school senior, Ever Forward Club member, and graduate of EFC’s social-emotional leadership academy. (3:00) Ashanti’s introduction (6:10) Ashanti welcomes Khiari and introduces Khiari’s role with Ever Forward Club and the podcast. (7:10) Khiari and Ashanti make their masks together. (12:15) Khiari shares more about himself, an Alameda High School senior, who has lived all over the Bay Area in his lifetime. (13:4...